40cal vs. 9mm
 

What are some of the differences good or bad between these two guns. (which one is bigger, has more knockdown, less recoil, more accurate, etc....)

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Bucky10,

.40cal>10mm
9mm>.36cal
There's only .004 different,but if you go to .50cal> 12.5mm.
IMHO,High Desert Eagle in .50cal has more recoil, but more knockdown power.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

I'd like to respectfully disagree with you Rebel Hog.

The 9mm Luger has a nominal bore diameter of .355" for jacketed bullets. The .40S&W's nominal bore is .400", for a difference of .045", which is significant. The .40S&W is obviously larger diameter, but they both fit in the same size magazines, with the 9mm having a few more rounds capacity in a given sized magazine (now that the retarded AWB has expired and full capacity mags are legal again).

To answer Bucky's question about "knockdown power." With premium defensive JHP loads, both are very similar with the .40S&W having a slight advantage. Accuracy for both is more dependant on the gun than the cartridge. The .40S&W has a bit more recoil, but generally less than the .45ACP in my experience.

Mike

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Drift, I was THOUGHTING when I should have been THINKING...Thanks!

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

That is exactly what I was looking at was the .40cal S&W or a glok 9mm and really the glok 9mm is more exspensive(my guess is name brand) but really the ammo for both of them are about the exact same. Both are very nice guns. I was just wanting a gun for plincking and taking to the woods with me in the off/scouting season for security or whatever.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

For the above use, get a good quality 357mag. revolver (stainless), such as the
Ruger Security-Six or current model, a GP100. 4" barrel or 6".

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

I agree that the revolver is probably your solution. I always am amused when I hear the argument over what's better, the .40 or 9mm. I own lots of different caliber handguns and I carry a 9mm for personal protection. My response to the nay sayers is that I'll ruin their day with my 9mm just as bad as a .40.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Oh yea, have you tried it? I never get amused about any question I can't answer with first hand knowledge.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Bigcountry, I'll only say that I've been in Law Enforcement or the Military all my adult life. I feel confident in what I said.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Well shoot a bunch of my family can say that. But they really don't know much about killing.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Handguns just aren't good stopping weapons period. Pick whichever caliber you like, shoot it alot and be happy with it. I prefer the 9mm over the .40 because its cheap to shoot and the .40 isn't that much more powerful than the 9mm. If you really are worried about energy levels, then make a bigger move up to a .357 magnum revolver and not a baby step up to a .40.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Bigcountry, come on.......security at the local piggly wiggly doesnt exactly count as "law enforcement" :D:D

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Well, really to alot of Law Enforcement I know, that are retired detectives from the highest crime areas in the country, neither are the tax collectors with guns (state police) and deputy's in the middle of cowtown, USA. So its all on how you look at it really.

I mean seriously, at our local gun club we share it with the state police. They get the place the on Monday and Tuesday. They have had alot of accidents, and have came dangerously close to getting people hurt. So much so, they are now required to have a range officer there now. The dips were practicing thier quick draw, shooting the floors, and everything else. I mean come on, number one, I probably put more hours in at a range than they do, and number two, if you havn't done the deed as some of the fellas I know that were Baltimore detectives, then you are just like me, reading books and hearing it on the internet. And if you don't know, then you don't know. So I trust myself over alot of these Barney Fifes. Some of them I have seen really scare me that they were given a badge.

But as I have said many times, when a guy has done the horrible deed many times with various weapons gives me advise, I listen.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

oh geesh........took more of my humor too seriously. You need to lighten up man, I was only kiddin' :D:D

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

Mossy, I am ignoring you. :D

For the rest let me say I was not meaning to belittle anyone in the law enforcement industries. I was tryng to explain, that just because you are in law enforcement doesn't mean you are a pistol expert. Not all police are Barney Fifes.

RE: 40cal vs. 9mm
 

IMO, buy which ever handgun feels best in your hand and worry about caliber later. Seriously!!

I know people that had to have a .357 magnum only to fumble with it at the range and never be accurate. what good is that? NO good at all. the most important thing when buying a handgun is how it fits you.